Through the Nieppebos in La Motte-au-Bois

Meet at St Thomas Canterbury Church (V) in La Motte-au-Bois. La Motte-au-Bois is an arrondissement of Morbecque (Moerbeke), along the D946 between Hazebrouck and Merville in French Flanders. The area was part of the County of Flanders for centuries and a Flemish dialect was still spoken until the early 20th century. In the church (1828), a relic of Thomas Becket is preserved. Walk just in front of the church next to the Auberge de la Forêt (on Place Amaury de la Grange) in Rue de la Gare and 350 m further left in the Train de Loos Dreve. Here you walk through the beautiful forest of the Nieppe, with an area of more than 2,500 ha, the largest forest complex in French Flanders. After just over 1 km and 200 m before leaving the forest, there is a narrow path on the right. If, still on the paved road, you see the barrier in front of you, you have missed the path; Then come back for a moment. Go into the forest on this path. It curves quickly to the right and, parallel to the edge of the forest, takes you back to the main road after 600 m. Turn left along the D188 and after 30 m right onto a wide forest road next to La Bourre, a wide and deep stream. The forest road is sometimes very muddy and waterproof boots are recommended. After 450 m you will see a large bunker 1 on the left. There are more here in the Nieppebos. For example, during World War II, the Germans had an underground launch site for their V1s and V2s not far from here: La Coupole near Saint-Omer. One kilometer after the bunker, the forest road makes a turn at right angles, back to La Bourre. Cross at the metal bridge, turn left and continue 50 m on a second metal bridge. Now turn right along the Pré à Vin canal. After 800 m you walk under the remains of a metal railway bridge and 50 m further along the water under the main road. Walk left, cross the D138 50 m further and continue straight into one lane parallel to the D946. The Nieppebos rests on an impenetrable layer of clay and, despite a very old drainage system of canals, streams and canals, remains a very humid forest. After 600 m, walk to the right in a straight and very wide firebreak. Now stay in the firebreak, ignore the many forest paths and roads left and right and enjoy the wide variety of trees and shrubs. The Nieppebos is also very wild. With a little luck, you will see a deer or a wild boar. After 2 km there is a large square clearing on the right. Pass in front and right next to the clearing on the right in a beautiful straight line (green arrow: Adventurers' Trail). Continue straight until you reach the end of the drive. Through an airlock between fences, you reach the Forest House 2 and the paved road. Turn left. A little further you see a beautiful chapel on the right and a little further a holiday center of the French scout movement. Almost a kilometre further, you will arrive at the Café au Pont de l'Arcole 3, a nice stamineetje next to the Nieppe canal. After a possible refreshment, walk right along the canal. The landscape here is flat and open. After 800 m you walk again in the Nieppebos, still next to the Nieppe Canal. After 300 m you can see an old but lively chapel on the right at the edge of the forest. Further along the canal. Where the wide field road moves away from the water, you go straight on a narrow path along the canal. Soon you will have a beautiful view of a 17th century castle, on the site of the medieval castle of the Counts of Flanders. Walk left via a concrete bridge over the Canal du Pré à Vin and further left along the water, here the Canal d'Hazebrouck. After 100 m you will return to the D946, which takes you back to the left to the village church. At St Eloi, De Swatelaere or Bon Vivant: all the names for the same cozy village café, where you can enjoy a well-deserved pint.